University Grade Appeals Board

Function

• To review academic grade appeals forwarded by departmental chair, dean, Graduate School dean, Academic Affairs, or designee, or University Ombudsman, except those that involve allegations of academic misconduct.  Any appeal that involves allegations of academic misconduct shall be processed outlined in the Academic Integrity Policy, WAC 504-26-415
• If upon review a subcommittee of the board determines that a final course grade should be changed, the chair of the board will direct the Registrar’s Office to assign an appropriate grade.

Composition and tenure

The University Grade Appeals Board shall consist of 16 faculty members at or above the rank of associate professor, including at least 1 member from each academic college and campus. The faculty members shall be appointed to staggered 3-year terms by the president of the University upon the recommendation of the Faculty Senate. All terms shall begin and/or end on August 15. The board shall elect a chair and vice chair. The role of the chair shall be to convene a subcommittee (of 5 members) when an appeal is brought to the committee. The chair upon recommendation of the subcommittee will institute the findings of that subcommittee. When there is no clear conflict of interest, consideration should be given to including an appeals board member from the involved department, college, or campus on the subcommittee.

Committee process

• As specified in Academic Regulation 105, Administrative Changes to Final Grades, a final course grade appeal may only be brought forward to the University Grade Appeals Board by the chair, dean, Graduate School dean, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs or designee, or ombudsman within 1 semester of the posting of the grade (excluding summer term). When a grade appeal is brought before the board, a subcommittee of 5 members selected by the chair shall meet to hear the appeal. This subcommittee shall have access to any information it deems necessary to make a decision. This information may include, but may not be limited to, any of the following: visits with the student, instructor, chair, and/or dean; access to grade books and/or records; and access to assignments and/or examinations.
• Should the majority of the University Grade Appeals Board subcommittee determine that the evaluation of a student’s work in a course was not made solely on the basis of a professional and ethical judgment of a student’s academic performance, the subcommittee may decide to change the grade. Such changes can include changing the grade to another letter grade, or to a P (passing) or W (withdrawal) grade. P grades earn credit toward graduation and are recorded on the transcript, but do not count in the GPA. If given, the academic unit must accept that course just as if the student had received a letter grade. When a W (withdrawal) grade is given, the subcommittee understands that the credit earned by the prior grade (if any), will be lost and understand that the number of withdrawals that the student has left to use will be reduced.
• The University Grade Appeals Board shall have jurisdiction over decisions of any faculty member and/or administrator on matters of University course grading appeals. The decision of the board is final and not subject to further appeal.

Committee membership